Land of the Red Rocks (Minett) guide: Luxembourg's industrial heritage, trails & things to do

T By Thomas · Updated 21 October 2026 · 3 min read

Airports

Luxembourg (LUX), about 25-35 minutes by car

Best time to go

May-September, when the heritage railways run

Type

Region

The Land of the Red Rocks, known in Luxembourgish as the Minett, is the country's industrial south. The name comes from the reddish iron-ore rock, minette, that was mined here from the 19th century and turned Luxembourg into a steel-making nation. Towns such as Esch-sur-Alzette, Differdange, Dudelange and Rumelange grew around the mines and works.

Today old open-cast mines have become nature reserves, steelworks have been turned into concert halls and university buildings, and the area has been recognised as a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve since 2020. It is a good choice for UK visitors interested in industrial heritage, walking and something different from the castles of the north. The region broadly matches the canton of Esch-sur-Alzette. For more on the country, see our Luxembourg guide.

Things to do

1. Belval blast furnaces – two preserved blast furnaces stand at the heart of a new district of offices, homes and the University of Luxembourg. One can usually be visited, with a walkway near the top. Our Esch-sur-Alzette guide covers Belval in more detail.
2. Fond-de-Gras – a former mining and industrial site in a wooded valley, where the Train 1900 steam railway and the Minièresbunn mine train run on selected days in season.
3. National Mining Museum, Rumelange – ride a small train into old mine galleries and see the tools and machines used underground.
4. Minett Trail – a long-distance walking route of about 90 km linking the mining towns through former quarries and nature reserves.
5. Ellergronn nature reserve – woodland and old mine sites on the edge of Esch, with a visitor centre and walking paths.
6. Rockhal – Luxembourg's biggest music venue, in Belval, hosts international bands and DJs.
7. Dudelange – home to the National Audiovisual Centre and a slag-heap landscape turned into parkland.
8. Differdange – a castle on a hill and quarries now reclaimed by nature, on the edge of the Fond-de-Gras area.

Where to stay

• Esch-sur-Alzette – the region's main town, with the most hotels, restaurants and fast trains to Luxembourg City.
• Belval – modern hotels next to the blast furnaces, Rockhal and the station.
• Differdange – convenient for Fond-de-Gras and the western end of the Minett Trail.
• Luxembourg City – only about 20-30 minutes away by train, so many people visit the south as a day trip.

Small cabins and lodges for walkers have been set up along the Minett Trail; check availability well ahead.

Getting there

Fly to Luxembourg (LUX), around 1h15 from London, then drive about 25-35 minutes south, or take free public transport via Luxembourg City. Frequent trains link the capital with Esch-sur-Alzette, Belval, Differdange and Dudelange. From the UK by rail, take the Eurostar to Paris or Brussels and change for Luxembourg City. Driving from Calais takes around four and a half hours.

Best time to visit

The heritage trains at Fond-de-Gras generally run on Sundays and holidays from spring to autumn, so May to September is the best time for a visit focused on industrial heritage. Spring and autumn suit hiking. The towns' museums and music venues operate year-round.

We research every guide carefully, but prices, opening times and timetables change. Check them shortly before you travel. Links to our booking partners are affiliate links.